'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' Royalties Could Skyrocket As Song Dominates YouTube, iTunes, Pandora

In this NASA handout, the last glimmer of the sun is seen as the moon makes its final move over the sun during the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 in Madras, Oregon. A total solar eclipse swept across a narrow portion of the contiguous United States from Lincoln Beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. A partial solar eclipse was visible across the entire North American continent along with parts of South America, Africa and Europe. (Photo by Aubrey Gemignani/NASA via Getty Images)

Bonnie Tyler’s 80s hit, Total Eclipse of the Heart, had a major comeback due to the 2017 North American eclipse. The 1983 hit song sprang to No. 1 on iTunes, topped YouTube viewership, trended on social media, had at least a 500% increase in digital download sales and was top of mind on Pandora.

Youtube alone reported more than 305,000,000 total plays of Tyler’s melody – with some 260,000 occurring during totality alone today and over one million views between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. today–and Nielsen reported that downloads of the song on iTunes increased over the last two weeks. Billboard reported sales of the song rose more than 500% today. Also, incredibly, this 34 year old song, which led to a Grammy nod for Tyler, even surpassed reggaeton hit Despacito on iTunes.

YouTube says that plays peaked mid-eclipse, or closer to totality, and then tapered off to regular views by 5 p.m.

YouTube graph depicting eclipse viewership of Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler.YouTube

EST. Pandora reported that Tyler saw a 470% increase in artist stations adds and that her hit song saw a 4,136% increase in spins this week alone. Pandora also estimated that Total Eclipse of the Heart is coming in at 146 million spins to date.

And this is on top of Royal Carribbean announcing that Tyler would sing live on a ship at the appointed time with Joe Jonas band DNCE providing backup. You can watch that video here, courtesy of an account named the Royal Carribbean blog.

Total Eclipse wasn't the only song on everyone's mind during the Aug. 21 celestial event. Creedence Clearwater Revival's Bad Moon Rising, Smash Mouth's Walkin On The Sun, Coldplay's A Sky Full of Stars, Len's Steal My Sunshine and Pink Floyd's Eclipse also topped YouTube view lists for U.S. eclipse day.

Adrienne Gibbs is a Chicago-based journalist. Follow her @adriennewrites on FB and Twitter.

I'm a Pulitzer-nominated, independent journalist, and I love reporting on arts and culture. TV, music and movies are my jam. You've seen my byline as a staff reporter at The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald and The Chicago Sun-Times. I'm the former senior editor of Ebony maga...